Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will go back to the balance between public and private providers. We often say that people cannot be what they cannot see. This is particularly the case in the teaching profession. We need to see diversity in our teaching staff. We need to see teachers who adequately reflect their own learners. Where training provision is moving towards being private only or a disproportionate amount of private provision, it creates socioeconomic barriers. Essentially, we are telling people that unless they have cash in the bank, they are not worthy of becoming a teacher. We all know this is true. I do not believe the Minister thinks this is true is but it is the impression given by the Department. There is also an inequality of opportunity issue. Where somebody who wishes to pursue a career in teaching may have previously pursued another career, if the only door open to them is one that comes with a significant fee, they will simply not be able to pursue that career. This is a loss to the State and to the children who would benefit from them.

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